Polish Airports Among Europe's Fastest-Growing. Aviation Industry Continues Recovery

The first half of 2025 brought stable growth across the European aviation sector. According to the latest report published by ACI EUROPE, passenger traffic at European airports increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven almost entirely by international travel, which rose by 5.7%, while domestic air traffic remained nearly flat (+0.2%).

These figures confirm that, despite mounting geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and operational challenges, demand for air travel remains strong. However, as Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, cautioned, growth can no longer be taken for granted. The market is now more volatile and unpredictable, and competitive pressure is rising.

Poland Among Regional Leaders

Among all countries in the EU+1 zone, Poland recorded one of the highest growth rates in passenger numbers, with an impressive 14.9% increase—second only to Slovakia (+19.2%).

Several Polish airports contributed significantly to this result. Kraków reported a growth of 18.7%, followed by Poznań (+20%), Wrocław (+15.6%), and Warsaw (+13.2%). These numbers underscore Poland’s growing importance in the European aviation landscape, driven by strategic route development and strong partnerships with low-cost carriers.

Diverging Regional Trends in Europe

While Europe overall saw positive results, performance varied significantly by region. Airports in Southeastern Europe outperformed their Northwestern counterparts. For instance, Malta (+11.7%) and Cyprus (+10.8%) reported solid growth, while Sweden experienced a decline (-0.9%), and Estonia and Iceland registered minimal increases.

Among the largest EU markets, Italy led the way with a 5.7% increase, followed by Spain (+4.5%). Meanwhile, airports in France (+3.6%), the UK, and Germany (both +2.3%) performed below the EU+ average.

Outside the EU+1 zone, disparities were even more pronounced. Moldova topped the rankings with an astonishing 49.2% surge, while Bosnia and Herzegovina (+31.1%) and Israel (+27%) also posted strong growth. In contrast, larger markets like Turkey (+1.2%) and Azerbaijan (+1.6%) showed only modest improvement.

Mega Hubs Grow Slowly

Europe’s busiest airports—those handling over 40 million passengers annually—saw the slowest growth, at just 3.3%. London Heathrow remained Europe’s top hub with 39.9 million passengers, a marginal increase of 0.2%. Close behind were Istanbul (39.1 million, +2.5%), Paris-CDG (34.6 million, +4.3%), Amsterdam Schiphol (32.7 million, +3%), and Madrid (32.6 million, +3%).

Strong Momentum for Mid-Sized and Smaller Airports

The most dynamic growth occurred among airports handling between 1 and 25 million passengers annually. Both the large (10–25 million) and medium-sized (1–10 million) segments recorded a 5.4% increase. This was largely driven by the targeted expansion of low-cost airlines and sustained demand for leisure travel.

Noteworthy performances in this category included Trieste (+31.8%), Bournemouth (+24.9%), Kaunas (+20.6%), and Polish airports in Poznań and Wrocław.

Even the smallest airports—those with fewer than one million annual passengers—benefited from a positive trend (+5.1%). However, they remain the only segment yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, still trailing 2019 volumes by nearly a third (-32.9%).

Solid Progress Amid Uncertainty

The figures from the first half of 2025 are encouraging, but the outlook remains cautious. The future of air travel in Europe will be shaped by a complex mix of geopolitical developments, macroeconomic shifts, and changing consumer behaviors.

Nonetheless, Poland appears well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory. With strong year-on-year growth and continued investment in airport infrastructure, the country is asserting itself as one of the most dynamic aviation markets on the continent.